Hoisting apparatus for cylindrical tanks



July 25, 1961 J. s. MORGAN 2,

I-IOISTING APPARATUS FOR CYLINDRICAL TANKS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 1 x A y -/9 39 MM '1 "1/ 1 4 fir/L912.

INVENTOR. Jflyd../7 Ior 9an ATTDRN EYS y 1951 J. s. MORGAN 2,993,679

HOISTING APPARATUS F OR CYLINDRICAL TANKS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENT OR.

J. ,S yd, Morgan ATTU RN EYS July 25, 1961 J. s. MORGAN 2,993,679

HOISTING APPARATUS FOR CYLINDRICAL TANKS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 36 c7. ,j ydfl/for gan ATTCI RN EYS July 25,1961 J. s. MORGAN 2,993,679

HOISTING APPARATUS FOR CYLINDRICAL TANKS Filed Feb. 20, 1959 4Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. c]: jyd .Mo 9 an ATTU RN EYS 2,993,679HOISTIN G APPARATUS FOR 'CYLTNDRICAL TANKS John Sydney Morgan, 3812 N.48th St, Omaha, Nebr. Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,622 1 Claim.(Cl. 254-89) This invention relates to a method of and means forconstructing tanks such as hollow steel storage tanks.

The object of the invention is to provide a means for constructing orerecting steel storage tanks wherein such tanks can be erected with aminimum amount of effort and in a highly safe manner and in the shortestpossible time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatusfor constructing tanks such as hollow storage tanks, and wherein thenecessity of having workmen ascend to high locations is eliminated sinceall of the various work can be performed at a low level near the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoisting arrangementwhich can be used for either a square tank, circular tank or the like,and wherein the sections or sheets for making the tank can be of anydesired formation, and wherein the various parts can be put together byrivets, bolts or welding or a combination of these methods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and means forerecting tanks wherein a plurality of curved sheets are joined togetherat their end so as to form a circular section, and wherein this circularsection is then hoisted or raised to a predetermined height, and whereinadditional sheets are then used to form another circular section, sothat the first and second sections can be joined together by suitablesecuring elements such as rivets or bolts, and wherein after thesesections are joined together, both sections can be simultaneously raisedso that other sections can be formed and joined, so that by repeatingthis process the entire tank can be conveniently and quickly constructedor erected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hoisting mechanismwhich is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame- FIGURE 1 is an elevational View illustrating the present inventionwith parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing one of the jacks.

FIGURE 4 is an elevational View showing the plate which carries theroller that is arranged adjacent the upper end of the jack.

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view illustrating a lug which is engaged bythe lower portion of the block and tackle.

FIGURE 6 is a view taken at right angles to the view shown in FIGURE '5.

FIGURE 7 is a plan view showing the tube.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating a modification.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the plate and roller for use with theassembly of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11- 11 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification.

rates Patent Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularlyto FIGURES 1-7 of the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a base whichmay be made of concrete or-the like, and supported on the base 10 is aplurality of similar jacks or hoists which are each indicated by thenumeral 11. Each jack 11 includes a bottom member 12 and an upstandinginclined tube 13 which is hollow. A post 14 is adjustably ortelescopically connected to each tube 13, and the post 14 is adapted tobe held in its adjusted position by means of securing elements 15 whichextend through suitable openings in the post 14 and tube 13'.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to acylindrical tank since the present invention can be used in theconstruction of tanks which are non-cylindrical such as square tanks,and wherein the sheets may be curved or straight, and wherein the partscan be assembled by means of rivets, bolts, welding or a combination ofthese methods.

Extending outwardly from the upper end of each post 14 is a horizontallydisposed arm 16, and a brace 17 extends between the arm 16 and the upperportion of the post 14, FIGURE 3. Secured to the outer end of each arm16 in any suitable manner, as for example by welding is a verticallydisposed plate 18, FIGURE 4. A pair of apertured ears 20 extendoutwardly from each plate 18, and a roller 19 is journaled between theears 20 by means of a pin or shaft 21. There is provided in the lowerportion of each plate 18 an opening 22, FIGURE 4.

In the drawings, the numeral 23 designates one of the circular sectionswhich are used in erecting or constructing a tank such as a storagetank, and the circular section 23 is made from a plurality of similarcurved sheets 24 which may be made of steel. In constructing thecircular section 23, the curved sheets '24 have their ends joinedtogether and arranged in overlapping relation with respect to eachother, as for example as shown in FIGURE 2, and the overlapping ends ofthe sheets 24 may be joined or secured together by securing elementssuch as bolts or rivets 25.

Secured to the inner surface of certain of the sheets or plates 24 arelugs 26, FIGURES 5 and 6, and each of the lugs 26 includes a lowerportion 27 as well as an upper offset portion 28, and the upper portion28 is provided with an opening 29. The numeral 30 indicates a block andtackle which has a hook 31 on its upper end for engagement with theopening 22 in the plate 18. The block and tackle 30 further includes anupper roller 32 as well as a chain assembly 33 and there is furtherprovided a lower roller 34 which has a depending hook 35 for engagingthe opening 29 in the corresponding lug 26. Thus, by manually actuatingthe chain 33, the block and tackle 30 can be actuated so as to raise thesection 23 to the predetermined elevation or height.

Each of the jacks 11 is provided with eye members 36, 37 and 38, and guylines or cables 39 are connected to these eye portions 36, 37 and 38 soas to help steady the jacks 11. Thus, the guy lines as indicated by thenumeral 39 in FIGURE 2 serve to interconnect the various jacks togetherso that accidental movement or shifting thereof is prevented.

The numeral 40 indicates securing elements such as rivets or bolts whichare used for joining together adjacent overlapping portions of thevarious circular sections 23.

Referring now to FIGURES 8-11 of the drawings, there is illustrated amodified jack which is generally indicated by the numeral 41, and it isto be understood. that a plurality of the jacks 41 are adapted to beused and these jacks 41 may be arranged in the same manner as thepreviously described jacks 11. Each jack 41 includes a lower member 42,an upstanding inclined tube 43, a

post 44 which is adjustably or telescopically connected tothe tube 43,and securing elements 45 for maintaining the post 44 in its desiredposition in the tube 43. Eye mern bers 46, 47 and 48 are connected toeach jack 41 whereby guy lines such as the guy lines 39 can be connectedto the eye members 46, 47 and 48.

Extending outwardly from the upper end of each post 44 is a horizontallydisposed arm 49, and a brace 50 extends between the arm 49 and the upperportion of the post 44. The numeral 51 indicates a vertically disposedplate which is secured as by welding to the arm 49, and the plate 51carries a roller 52, the plate 51 being also provided with a loweropening 53.

There is further provided a Z-shaped beam 54 which is secured to thecircular section 23 in any suitable manner, as for example by means ofsecuring elements 55. The numeral 56 indicates an I-bearn 56 which has ahook 57 on its upper end for engaging the brace 59. A pin 58 extendsthrough the lower portion of the I-beam 56, and a pair of rods 59 extendfrom the pin 58 and project through a crosspiece 60, FIGURE 10. Locknuts 61 are arranged in threaded engagement with threaded portions ofthe rods 59, and a shank 62 extends from the crosspiece 60 to a clamp63. The clamp 63 is arranged in engagement with the tube 43, and theclamp 63 includes a pair of curved members 64 which are maintainedconnected together by means of securing elements such as bolt and nutassemblies 65. The numeral 66 indicates an L-shaped beam which issecured as at 67 to the beam 54, and a support member 68 is secured tothe L-shaped beam 66. The numeral 69 indicates a block and tackleassembly which includes an upper pulley 70 that has a hook '71 extendingupwardly therefrom for engaging the opening 53 in the plate 511. Theblock and tackle 69 further includes a lower pulley unit 72 which has adepending hook 73 which is arranged in engagement with an opening in thesupport member 68, and the block and tackle 69 further includes a chain74 which can be actuated in the usual manner.

As shown in FIGURE 11 there is further provided a supporting structurewhich is indicated generally by the numeral 75, and the supportingstructure 75 includes side members 76 and 77 which have ears 78extending there from, and a shaft or pin 79 in this structure serves tosupport a roller 80 which is arranged in engagement with the I-beam 56.Adjustable screw members 81 extend through a brace 82 and engage the pin79 so that by rotating the screw members 81 the position of the partscan be controlled or regulated as desired. The pin 79 extends throughslots 83 so that the movement of the screw members 81 can be used foreffecting an adjustment of the pin 79 whereby the roller 80 can be movedtowards or away from the I-beam 56.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a methodof and means for erecting structures such as hollow cylindrical storagetanks. According to the present invention a plurality of the jacks suchas the jacks -11 are supported on the base it at the site of the tank tobe erected. The plates or sheets 24 are provided with a curvature, andthen a plurality of these sheets 24 are arranged in circular formationso as to form a first circular section as indicated by the numeral 23.It will be noted that these plates 24 have their ends arranged inoverlapping relation with respect to eacr other, and the overlappingends of the sheets 24 are secured together in any suitable manner, asfor example by means of rivets or bolts 25. Certain of the sheets 24have lugs 26 aflixed to the inner surface thereof, and after thecircular section 23 has been formed, the section 23 can be raised. Thejacks 11 which are used for raising the section 23 are fastened togetherby means of the guy lines 39 which engage the eye members such as themembers 36, 37 and 38.

To raise the first section 23, the hooks 35 on the lower ends of theblock and tackle assemblies 30 are arranged in engagement with theopenings 29 in the lugs 26, and

then with the hook 31 arranged in engagement with the opening 22 of theplate 18, it will be seen that the chain 33 can be pulled on so as toactuate the block and tackle assembly 30. As the block and tackleassembly 30 is actuated, the first section 23 will 'be raised to apredetermined or desired distance above the base 10, when such a base isbeing used.

Next, a plurality of other sheets 24 are arranged so that their endsoverlap each other, and these sheets 24 are also joined together as at25. After the second section 23 has been formed by securing theoverlapping ends of the sheets 24 together, then the lower edge portionof the first section 23 can be fastened to the upper edge portion of thesecond section 23 as for example by means of securing elements 40, andwith these two circular sections joined together, certain of the hooks35 can be arranged in engagement with the openings 29 in some of thelugs 26 so that by actuating the proper block and tackles 30, both ofthe circular sections 23 can be simultaneously raised. Then, with thesetwo circular sections in raised position, the next circular section canbe formed by means of joining the curved sheets 24 together, and thenafter fastening the overlapping portions of the last named circularsection with the lower edge of the second named circular section, allthree joined together sections can be raised as previously described.This process is of course repeated until the storage tank has thedesired height or elevation.

It is to be noted that as the completed sections move upwardly, therollers 19 bear against the inner surface of the sections 23 so as tohelp maintain the parts in their proper alined position.

When using the mechanism of FIGURES 811, the procedure is substantiallythe same. That is, a plurality of curved sheets 24 are joined togetherto form a circular section 23, and by actuating the block and tackleassembly 69, the first section 23 can be raised. It will be noted thatthe hook 73 on the lower end of the block and tackle 69 engages thesupport member 68 which is aflixed to the section 23, while the hook 71on the upper end of the block and tackle 69 engages the plate 51 andthis insures that the section will move upwardly when the block andtackle 69 is actuated. After the first section is moved upwardly, thenext section is formed and then joined to the first section, and thenboth sections are raised and this process is repeated as before.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapesor sizes. The member 12 may be bolted to the concrete base 10. The bolt15 can be loosened so as to permit up and down adjustment of the post 14in the tube 13. The present invention is especially suitable for raisingand erecting round steel tanks.

In FIGURE 8 the beam 56 functions as a wheel guide, and the numeral 75defines a guide assembly. The guide assembly 75 is adjustable aspreviously stated.

The completed tank can be used. for holding any desired material such asgrain.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided amethod of and apparatus for erecting round steel storage tanks, and themetal which is used may vary in gage, height and diameter. The tanks mayvary in height from approximately eight feet to ninety-six feet and thediameter may vary from nine feet to fifty-two feet. These tanks are madeof sheet metal and the holes for the securing elements are pro-punchedor formed, and the top section telescopes over the lower section therebelow approximately two inches when the'bolts such as the bolts 40 areapplied. The. bolt holes are approximately two inches apart around thecircumference of the tank.

The sheets of metal 24 are approximately four feet Wide and eight feetlong but this will vary according to the size that the tank is to bemade. The sheets 24 are furnished in curved or rounded shape and on thefirst increment the sheets 24 are put together and bolted until thecircular section 23 is completed. The roof is also of metal but made insegments of a circle and they are put together and bolted and fastenedto the top section.

A chain hoist is used and extending therefrom is a metal steel clip suchas the clip or lug 26 which may be fastened in place by bolts r rivetsor welding, and this permits the section to be raised up and after thefirst section is raised up, the next section is put in place, and thenthe section that is in the air is lowered to the proper position andthen these sections are bolted together and then lifted together. Thetank is raised eight feet at a time provided that is the width of thenew section, and then another eight foot section is bolted together andthen bolted to the part above. Then, the lugs or clips are removed andit is fastened to the last addition and then it is raised up and anothereight foot section is put in.

The completed tank can be used for various purposes such as for holdinggrain and the lifting mechanism of the present invention hastens theerection of the tanks and it is especially suitable and advantageous insmall farming communities since it has been found very difficult toobtain persons who will work at high elevations and the use of the chainhoist device of the present invention will eliminate the necessity ofhigh climbing.

As previously stated, the present invention can be used for erectinground steel storage tanks of various heights and diameters as well asstructures of other shapes. The completed tank which is put together mayrest on a cement foundation such as the foundation 11, the depth andwidth of which depend upon the circumference and height. The steelsheets are furnished already punched so that the overlapping ends can bebolted together as at 25 and these sheets are already rolled to conformwith the circumference of the finished product and the sheets may varyin weight from approximately 140 to 600 pounds according to the gage ofthe steel.

Heretofore it has taken approximately twelve men eight hours to puttogether one eight foo-t high circumference of a tank and in accordancewith the present invention approximately eight men can put threesections together in eight hours so that the job can be speeded up andperformed more efliciently and with greater facility.

It will be seen that according to the present invention a plurality ofjacks such as the jacks '11 or 41 are used, and the upper sections orposts will telescope into the bottom section or tube. Each jack supportsa chain hoist and the steel plate such as the plate 12 or 42 can bebolted to the base 10. By providing a telescopic post and tubearrangement, the jack is advantageous as for example when tanks arebuilt from a flat concrete base or when tanks are built on a twelve inchthick concrete wall of varying height, depending upon the tank. Therollers such as the rollers 19 or 52 bear against the inner surface ofthe tank being constructed. It will be seen that the members 13 and 14or the members 43 and 44 are inclined, and these members may be fivedegrees out of perpendicular leaning towards the wall of the tank. Sincethe jack exerts pressure in lifting, the roller such as the roller 19 orthe roller '52 will exert pressure in the skirt of the tank so as togive it the strength which is necessary because the lift is on theinside of the arc. The I- beam 56 remains parallel with the wall of thetank and 6 the roller is movable with respect to the I-bearn 56 so as toprovide constant strength to the tank skirt.

The lugs 26 permit the sections which have already been prepared to belifted by the jacks when a new section is to be assembled underneath theraised section so that the raised section can then be lowered to the topof the new section and the two sections are bolted together and then theentire process is again repeated.

While the present invention has described specifically the constructionof a cylindrical tank, it is to be understood that the principle of thepresent invention is applicable to the construction of other types ofunits or tanks such as square tanks, and the sheets may be straight orcurved, and the assembly can be carried out by means of rivets, bolts,welding or the like.

Referring now to FIGURE 12, there is illustrated a slight modificationwherein the sections 23' have flanges such as the flanges 23A which areadapted to be fastened together, as for example by means of securingelements 23B. The sections 23' may function or be used in the samemanner as the previously described sections 23.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming withinthe field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, ifdesired.

I claim:

In a hoisting mechanism for use in constructing a cylindrical tank fromcurved sheets, a plurality of similar jacks arranged in spaced apartrelation with respect to each other, guy lines connecting said jackstogether, each of said jacks including an inclined hollow tube, a posttelescopically connected to each tube, a horizontally dis posed armextending outwardly from the upper end of each post, a verticallydisposed plate secured to said arm, a roller carried by said plate, anda chain hoist depending from said plate, a Z-shaped beam engaged by saidroller and said beam being secured to an arcuate tank section made froma plurality of curved sheets joined together, a brace secured to saidarm and post, a hook depending from said brace, an I-beam having itsupper end connected to said hook, a pin extending through said I-beam,rods extending from said pin, a crosspiece connected to said rods, ashank extending from said crosspiece, a clamp surrounding said tube andconnected to said shank, an L-shaped beam secured to said Z-beam, asupport member secured to said L-shaped beam, said chain hoist havingits lower end connected to said support member, a supporting structureconnected to said support member, and a roller connected to saidsupporting structure for engaging said I-beam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,839,578 Morton Jan. 5, 1932 2,582,548 Larson Jan. 15, 1952 2,604,303Grady July 22, 1952 2,605,540 Kroll et al. Aug. 5, 1952 2,673,064Patterson et a1 Mar. 23, 1954 2,715,013 Slick Aug. 9, 1955 2,866,261Macku Dec. 30, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,253 Canada July 15, 1958

